- Title: QATAR: Medicine gains popularity among Qatari students
- Date: 7th October 2013
- Summary: DOHA, QATAR (RECENT) (REUTERS) STUDENT ENTERING WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE IN QATAR SIGN READING: "WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE IN QATAR" STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING'S CORRIDOR GROUP OF STUDENTS TALKING STUDENT READING STUDY MATERIAL MORE OF STUDENT READING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEAN OF WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGE, JAVAID SHEIKH, SAYING: "This is the highest numbe
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Qatar
- Country: Qatar
- Topics: Education
- Reuters ID: LVAEGFD2TOOYZT665R0FQNOJSP2C
- Story Text: Qatari students are enrolling to study medicine in larger numbers than ever, and those numbers are particularly reflected in student registrations at the Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar (WCMC-Q).
The university is a collaboration between Cornell University of the United States and a Qatari education foundation set up by the former Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
The medical college started with just two Qatari students for its pre-medical programme in 2002, and now the number of local students is gradually increasing.
The university's dean, Javaid Sheikh said Qataris form the highest proportion of students from any one country.
"We typically take students from 15-20 countries in any given year. Our medical school at this time has students from 33 countries. This incoming class -- the highest number is from Qatar, nine students from Qatar," Sheikh said.
Health officials say the government wants to encourage more nationals to join the profession. Currently, Qataris are estimated to make up about 10 percent of all health professionals in the country.
One student at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar also said the Gulf country -- where foreign workers make up nearly 85% of the population -- needs its own medical professionals.
"If we brought specialised physicians from all over the world, form America and Europe, there will be a difference in customs and traditions, so they will have difficulty in understanding various issues in the society," said final year student Abdul Wahed Zeinal.
"It could be the best treatment available in the world, but it might not be the most suitable for the environment in the Arab world and in particularly Qatar," Zeinal said.
Other students said the efforts by the university to promote studying medicine also helped when they were making their higher education decisions.
"The university did its role in organising activities, like exploring the education city and other student activities. It even organised the "Healing Hands" competition particularly for Qatari students. Such activities encourage Qatari students in high schools to think of medicine as a profession. Another reason is the presence of an American medical college in Qatar," said student Alaa al-Nemaa.
The college offers a two-year pre-medical programme that focuses on basic sciences relevant to medicine, aimed mainly at Qatari students who need to improve their scientific background as well as their English language skills.
Due to an increase in the number of Qatari students and researchers in the college, the focus of research has changed. The college recently revealed studies related to cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases -- all widely prevalent in Qatar.
The dean for admissions said there is now more awareness about the importance of healthcare among Qataris.
"Generally speaking, people in Qatar have become aware of the importance and the value of healthcare profession and that's why I feel there is a lot of interest," said Ravinder Mamtani, associate dean for admissions at Weill Cornell Medical College.
As it stands Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is the only academic institution that offers medical programmes in the Gulf state. But according to recent reports in the Gulf Times, Qatar University will also look in to introducing medical courses 'if the country requires them'.
Recently Qatar unveiled reforms in its healthcare with more research being launched into areas like maternal and clinical health, as reported by Gulf News last month.
Qatar plans to open 10 new primary health centres as well as carrying out extension works to existing hospitals. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None